Coin controlled game of skill



May 30, 1933. w. A, TRATSCH COIN CONTROLLED GAME OF SKILL Filed June 25, 1932 -4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FI E- 3- FI E. E-

gmemtozz' WALTERATRATEEH/ May 30, 1933. w. A. TRATscH 1,912,324

COIN CONTROLLED GAME OF SKILL Filed June 25, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 El E. L

.l j Il' grt/ventole WALTERATHATEEI,

May 30, 1933. w. A. TRATscH 1,912,324

COIN CONTROLLED GAME OF SKILL Filed June 25, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l." I E- Er.

gwvento/c:

WALTER RATE @i7 I dwomug.

May 30, 1933- w.v A. TRATscH 1,912,324

COIN CONTROLLED GAME OF SKILL Filed June 25, 1932 4 Sh'e'tS-Shet 4 F I E- 7.

Patented May 3G, 1933 UNITED STATES WALTER A. TRATSCH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS COIN CONTROLLED GAME G1' SKILL Application iiled June 25,

This invention relates to games of skill and more particularly to a coin controlled game simulating a horse race, having for its object to provide a construction simple in parts, eiii cient in operation, and less costly of manufacture than those heretofore proposed.

l/Vith these and other objects in View the invention resides in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts as will be 0 disclosed more fully hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which like numerals designate like parts in all the views,

Fig. l is a vertical side elevation of the com slide operating mechanism in its normal or at rest position, that is to Say, at the time a coin is inserted in the slide;

Fig. 2 is a view of the same mechanism with the parts thereof in a different position, as at the end of the eiiective stroke of the coin slide;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the plate constituting the playing surface;

Fig. 4L is a bottom view of the plate shown in Fig. 3 with the operating parts in normal or at rest position, that is to say, as they appear immediatelj.7 prior to the insertion of a coin and manipulation of the handle to actu` ate the mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of some of the parts shown in Fig. 4 in a position just after the start of the actuation of the mechanism;

Fig. (i is a view similar to Fig. 4 but with the parts of the actuating mechanism in a position further advanced than that shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the playing surface or top plate, taken as on the line 7 -7 f Fig. l0 and looking` in the direction of the arrow, and particularly illustrates the gear train for rotating the tables upon which are disposed the player disks;

Fig. S is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the mechanism released and the actuating slide starting its return stroke preparatory to placing the parts in normal position;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 but showing the parts in a still further advanced posi- 1932. Serial No. 619,313.

tion during the return stroke of the actuating slide;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4;;

Fig. ll is a transverse sectional View taken 5,

as on the line ll-ll of Fig. l0 and looking in the direction of the arrow;

12 is a detail View of the latch device by means of which the actuating slide is moved by the coin slide mechanism; and

Fig. 13 is a detail view of the parts shown in Fig. 12 during the return movement of the actuating slide.

l'vvlith particular reference to Figs. 3, 7, 10 and ll, there is provided indicated by the numeral l, having therein two circular openings 2 and 3 in substantial tangential relation and providing therebetween a passage indicated at 4. By this construction there are formed similar portions 7 of 'the plate, as shown at 5 and 6, of substantially triangular shape with each of the opposed points having fiat surfaces 7 and 8 a plate, generally 05 angularly but similarly formed with respect to the central longitudinal which latter passes through the centers of the openings L) and 3. In the opening 2 there is mounted a circular table 9 and in the opening` is another circular table l0 which may or may not be of the same size as the table 9, both tables being centrally pivoted so that their periphcries almost touch.

Secured to the plate l and extending over said tables in spaced relation is a transplane of the plate pa ent cover 1l, as clearly shown in Fig. l1, 85

said cover having depending therefrom, over the table 9, a partition member l2 having a curvature concentric with that of said table. This partition is preferably suspended by 9 means of tabs 13 extending through preformed slots in said cover, and is of a vertical dimension such that the lower edge just avoids contact with the upper surface of said table, the length of said partition being slightly greater than the total dimension of the game pieces or player disks used in this gaine. It will therefore be seen from Fig. 3 that by spacing this partition from the wall of the opening 2 there is provided a compartment or stall indicated at 14 which is l of a width to accommodate closely, in a single curved row, the plurality of horses which in this device are simulated by the small circular player disks 15, said disks having on their upper surface means of identification which latter, in the drawings, is shown as a series of numerals.

These player disks have a thickness making it possible for them to freely move about in the space between the upper surface of the rotatable tables 9 and 10 and the under surface of the cover 11, but impossible for one disk to jump another or become jammed in said space. The tables are rotatable at a speed suiiicient to positively cause the player disks l5 to be moved bv the action of centrifugal force to the circular Wall of the openings 2 and 3 which wall extends above the tables, and it will be evident that when they come to the opening 4 in said walls, the disks will travel from one table to the other, the surfaces 7 and 8 materially assisting in insuring this cross travel between said tables. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the player disks may have complete circular movement as well as movement in the shape of the Figure 8, dependent upon the speed of rotation of the tables 9 or 10, and the comparative freeness from travelling disks of the opening 4.

lVith particular reference to Fig. 7, which is a bottom plan view of the plate l, it will be seen that the table 9 has a central pivot comprising the shaft 2O upon which and below said table is secured a pinion 21 engagin g with an intermediate gear 22 mounted on a stub shaft 23 carrying a pinion 24 engageable with a main drive gear 25 loosely mounted upon a shaft 26, and to said last mentioned shaft is rigidly secured a ratchet wheel 27 engageable with a plurality of pawls 28 carried by the gear 25 and held against said ratchet wheel by the tension of springs 29. It thus results that, when the ratchet wheel 27 is rotated clock-wise as seen in Fi. 7, its teeth will slip past the pawls 28 but, because said main drive gear 25 is loosely mounted on the shaft of the ratchet wheel, no rotation of said gear will result due to the friction existing in the train of gears enmeshed as above described. On the other hand, when the shaft 26 is rotated counter clockwise, the ratchet wheel through its associated pawls will cause the main driving gear 25 to rotate counter clock-wise and, through the gear train, impart clockwise rotation to the table 9. The ratio of pinions and gears is such approximately that one qua-rter turn of the shaft 26 will cause a very great number of revolutions of the table 9, said table'coming ultimately to a stop by virtue of the friction in the gear train, the inertia of the rotating table causing its last several revolutions to take place after the shaft -26 has stopped, the pawls 28 snapping over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 27 as will be understood.

The table l0 is similarly mounted upon a shaft 30, the latter carrying a pinion 3l in mesh with an intermediate gear 32 mounted on a stub shaft 33 which latter gear meshes with the aforementioned intermediate gear 22. rherefore, it will be appreciated that the same movements causing rotation of the table 9 will also rotate table l0, the particular selection and arrangement of gears and pinions being made as desired. ln the drawings the pinion 3l has been illustrated as being smaller than the corresponding pinion 2l, but it is obvious that changes in the various dimensions and number of enmeshed elements could be made whereby the two tables would or would not, as desired, have the same directional rotation and/or the saine speed.

From Figs. 7 and 19, it will be understood that the plate l suppoi in parallel relation as by the spacing lugs and 36, the opposite ends of astationary mounting plate 37 whose opposite central. portions are additionally scoured as by the lugs 3S to the top plate l. rl`his stationary plate forms a support for the stub shafts 23 and 33 and also supports one end of the shafts 20, 26, and 30, the other end of the shaft 26 being supported in the top plate l, and the other ends of the shafts 20 and 3() being supported in a bar 39 extending centrally and longitudinally on the upper side of top plate l there being provided suitable apertures in the transparent cover plate ll through which the shafts may pass, and said bar 39 being rigidly secured to the top plate l as by the rivets at). ln Fig. Yll. the shaft 2O is illustrated as being alternately or optionally mounted on pin .supports to reduce the amount of friction during its rotation.

T he stationary plate 37 has rigidly mounted thereon a pair of pillars or shouldered posts il and 2, in the vertical plane of the centers of the rotatable tables, for supporting the actuating slide 4?, in spaced relation to said plate, the ends of said posts engaging respectively the elongated slots le and 45 of said slide the slot f5 extending substantially to the end of said slide, and the slot Llll of a length to limit the longitudinal movement of said slide, On one side thereof the slide carries a transverse extension i6 having a slot 17 therein engaged by a pin 4:6 disposed at one end of an arm t9 the other end of which is rigidly secured to the shaft 26, the position and length of the slot 47 as well as the length of the arm 49 being such that, in a full actuating stroke of the slide, said arm will cause subs f tantially a one-quarter turn of the shalt 26, the return stroke of said slide causing retrograde movement of said arm with consequent reverse quarter turn of said shaft. At, one end of said slide the side edge thereof is provided with spaced lugs or shoulders 50 loo and 5l adapted, in opposite strokes of the slide, to engage the turned over end 52 of a slide bar 53 Whose ymovement is limited by slots such as 54 engaged by shouldered posts such as 55 carried by the stationary plate 37, said posts positioning said bar in spaced relation from said stationary plate.

rl`liis slide bar 53 is adapted, through its turned over end, to cause pivotal movement of a lever which latter carries a finger 56 adapted to be thrown across and Withdrawn from across the stall 14 in which the player disks l5 are aligned, said finger being moved at stated intervals during the operation of the mechanism. That is to say, and with particular reference to Fig. 5, said lever comprises a bar 57 pivoted at cAAJ end as at 53 to the under side of the top plate l, the other end of said bar having the transversely ei;- tending finger 56 insertable through a suitable aperture therefor in the Wall of the table opening i?, said finger being positioned to move across the upper surface of Table 9 in slightl spaced relation thereto vto arrest and/ or release the player disks.

About midway of the bar 57 there is rigidly mounted a substantially transversely extending arm 59 having attached thereto one end of a spring 60 the other end of which is secured to the stationary plate 3T, said spring having the tendency to move the bar 5T so that its finger 56 Will extent across the. stall 14 to arrest and hold in alignment said playing disks. The extreme end of the arm 59 has formed on one side edge thereof a notch 6l engageable by the turned-over end 52 of the slide bar 53, the extreme end edge of said arm being cut off at an angle so that, when the finger is Withdrawn from its arresting position, said turned-over end of the slide bar Will rest upon and have slidabley contact with the cut ofii end of said arm (see Fig. 9). lt will thus be understood that the finger 5 will be held out of player disk arresting position until the slide bar has released the end of saidv arm, at Which time the spring 670 will cause movement of said finger into arresting position. la this respect it shouldL be stated that the slide bar is under no spring tension and is only resisted in its movei ent by the shoulders 50 and 5l of the actuating slide, by frictional engagement with the arm 59, wherefore said slide bar will remain in the position to which it has been moved until it is subsequently moved from that position by reverse movement of the actuating slide.

A pin carried by the actuating slide 43 has secured thereto one end of a heavy duty spring generally indicated by the numeral 66, the other end of which is secured to pin 6T carried by the stationary plate 3T so that said slide is normally in the inactive position shown in Fig. 4, the slots 44 and 45 by their engagement With the pins 4l and 42 limiting movement of said slide toward the right as seen in said figure. l/Vhen the slide is moved to the left, the arm 49 Will be oscillated thereby to cause the one-quarter turn of the ratchet wheel 27, and When said slide moves to the right, there Will be reverse movement of said ratchet wheel which, through the pawls 28, will cause rotation of the tables 9 and 10.

Since full and intended operation of allof the parts of this device are contemplated, there is a full-stroke compelling device associated with the actuating slide 43 which comprises aplate 68 rigidly secured to one longitudinal edge of said slide, said plate having on its outer edge serrations which are engageable With a paWl 69 pivotally carried by the stationary plate 37, the outermost end of said pawl being engageable with the V- shaped end of a leaf spring 70 carried by the stationary plate. The formation of the pawl 69 and the disposition of the leaf spring 70 are such that, when the outermost end of said pawl is on one side of the V, as shown in Fig. 6, the tooth of said pawl will engage successively the sei-rations of the plate 68 as the actuating slide is moved against the tension of its spring. Cn the other hand, `when the outermost end of said pawl is on the other side of the V shown in Fig. 4, the tooth of said pawl will be held out of engagement with said serrations, and thereby permit movement of the actuating slide under the action of its spring. Thus it will be seen that the leaf spring 70 is formed to hold the pawl 69 in one or the other of its pivotal positions, and that the slide 43 can not be released and moved to the right (its return stroke) so long as the pawl engages said seri-ations.

Pivoted to the actuating slide 43 is a spring tensioned dog Whose free end is bevelled for cooperation with a lug 76 carried as an extension of the slide releasing paWl 69, there being provided as usual a pin 77 for limiting the movement of said dog in one direction. That is to say, and as clearly shown in Fig. 5, when the slide 43 is operatively moved, as in the direction indicated by the arrow, the dogl T5 will engage the lug T6 and swing the pawl 69 about its pivot to pass the V of the leaf spring 70, thereby bringing and holding the tooth of said pawl in engagenent with the serrations of the plate 68, see Fig. 6. This takes place immediately after the start of the slide 43 on its operating stroke, and in the following description there will be disclosed a means for disengaging said paivl from said serrations to permit the re 'turn or inoperative stroke of said slide. rihereJOre, it will be understood that on the return stroke of the slide, the tooth of the pawl Will be out of engaging position with the serrations of the plate 68, and therefore the slide will be perfectly free under the ten sion of its spring 66 to move in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 8 to ultimately come to rest in the position shown in Fig. 4. In this return stroke of the slide the lug will tip or oscillate the dog and thus pass said dog without throwing the pawl across the V of its control spring 70.

The means for moving the actuating slide 43 is particularly shown in Figs. 1, 2, 12 and 13, and suggested by a dotted line showing in some of the other figures of the drawings. That is to say the front Wall 8O of the cabinet, in which this game device is housed, has mounted thereon a plate 81 the extreme outer end of which has pivoted thereto, as at 82, a lever 83 one end of which is adapted to be oscillated by a grooved roller 84e carried at the end of a lever 85, pivoted as at 86, the other end of the lever 85 terminating in a handle 87 exteriorly of the cabinet. The pivot pin 82 also has mounted thereon one end of an arm 88, Whose other end is bifurcated to provide the pocket 89 into which extends the downturned end 90 of the end of a coin slide 91, which slide operates in a suitable guide 92 extending exterior-ly and interiorly of the cabinet Wall.

The coin slide and its guide may be of any suitable construction, such for example as that shown in U. S. Letters Patent No. 974,035 granted October 25, 1910 to George H. Davis, the preferred construction heilig that the coin slide will move to the end of a stroke of predetermined lenOth when the requisite coin is placed therein, but which will not move through the predetermined stroke distance if an unauthorized coin or no coin is used, it being understood that, as in similar constructions of this nature, the game device is only capable of actuation When a coin of correct characteristics is used. However, other coin control constructions may be utilized as for example any slide which is unlocked by the insertion of a coin of proper characteristics. Further, the actuation of this gaine device may be made not dependent upon the use of a coin, since it may as Well be operated solely upon manipulation of the handle 87 to move an unrestricted bar similar to the coin slide 91, but in this case the game device Will be operated Without profit to the owner.

It will thus be seen that the pocket 89 is Jformed by two spaced ends of the pivoted arm 88, the innermost end carrying a pin 93 to which secured one end of a heavy duty spring 94, the other end of said springl being secured to the end of the lever 83 opposite to that end which is moved by the roller 8-1. The pin 93 loosely passes through the end of a piston 95 of a dash pot generally indicated by the numeral 96 which has the usual function of cushioning` the return of moving parte, the dash pot being suitably and pivotally mounted on the Wall 80 of the cabinet.

The other endY of the bifurcated arm v88 carries a roller 97 engageable with a surface of the down turned end 90 of the coin slide, and there is provided a second spring 98 one end of which is connected to the pin 93 and the other end of Which is secured to the Wall 80 of the cabinet, the spring 98 being of lesser strength than the heavy duty spring 911. 'ilihus it will be seen that when the handle 87 is moved downwardly the various lever connections cause the roller 97 to move the coin slide inwardly with respect to the cabinet, or to the left as seen in 1 and 2.

With particular' reference to Figs. 12 and 13, it will be seen that the downturned portion 90 of the coin slide 91 may be also formed as part of a plate riveted to, and forming an extension of, the coin slide proper, in any event the downturned portion providing a rectangular shoulder 100 which is relatively sharp This shoulder is adapted to engage a flattened surface of the heavier end of a latch member 101 pivoted as at 102 to the extreme end of the actuating slide 1.13, whereby i t will be understood that this member will normally assume the position shown in Fig. 12 with its aforementioned flat surface in abutting contact with a cross bar indicated at 103 serving as a stop to position said meniber with its fiat surface in a substantially vertical plane for engagement by the rectangular shoulder 100 of the coin slide.

The other and lighter end of the men'iber 101 is provided with a groove 104 adapted to be engaged by the turned-over end or hook portion 105 of a lever pivoted as at 106 to a bracket rigid with the slide 43, the other end 107 of said lever being provided with, a bevk elled surface adapted to be engaged by a lug 108 rigid with the stationary plate 37, there being provided a. light Weight spring 108 for normally holding said lever in the position shown in Fig. 12. The lug 108 is positioned on the under surface of thestationary plate 37 at a. point such that it Will be struck by the bevelled end 107 of the latching lever when the actuating slide 43 has substantially reached the end of its operating stroke. It Will thus be seen that at this time said lug will oscillate said lever to cause disengagement of its hook end 105 from the groove 10e of the member 101 whereupon any continued movement of the shoulder 100 of the coin slide 91 to the left as seen in Fig. 13 Will cause a tipping of the latch with its lowermost portion riding upon the upper surface of the coin slide.

lf the operating handle 87 is held down after the release of the playing mechanism, and therefore is held down during the return stroke of the actuating slide, the latch 101 will merely slid-e over the upper surface of the coin slide, the parts coming to rest ultimately when the actuating slide reaches the limit of its movement by virtue of its slots 44 and 45. When this position of the slide is reached, the latch member 101 will contact the leaf spring 109 carried by the stationary plate 37 which spring, however, will flex inoperatively if the coin slide is still sustaining the latch 101 as in the position shown in Fig. 13.

On the other hand, when the coin slide has been returned to the full limit of its outward movement with respect to the cabinet (as when the operating handle 37 is released or raised) the shoulder 100 of said slide will have moved to the right as seen in Figs. 12 and 13 to a position suiiicient to clear the weighted end of the latch 101 and permit the latter to be moved, under the pressure of the leaf spring 109, to the position shown in Fig. .12 at which time the hoek 105 of the latching lever will engage the groove 104 of the latch and hold the latter in correct position for cooperative engagement with the coin slide shoulder 100 upon the next actuating stroke. Fig. 10 shows in dashed and solid lines the correct relationship of parts 90 and 101 when the device is at rest and ready for actuation after the insertion of a proper coin.

Depending from the underside of the stationary plate 37 is a bracket 115 which, as indicated in broken-away showing in Fig, 5, is provided with a groove or channel 116 extending` parallelly to the direction of movement of the actuating` slide 43 and which is to receive therein an arm 117 formed as an extension of the coin slide 91. The extreme end of this arm is bevelled and so positioned that, in the movement of said arm to the left as seen in Fig. 6 said bevelled end will strike a side of the lug 76 and cause an oscillation of the pawl 69 about its pivot to throw said pawl to the other side of the V of its control spring 70, the wall of the channel 116 serving as an abutment for the arm 11',7 preventing lateral displacement of said arm and thereby insuring the positive throw of the pawl. Fig. 6 shows the actuating slide being moved by the coin slide to the left with the end of the arm 117 about to contact the lug of the pawl 69, and Fig. 8 shows the parts just after the pawl has been moved to the other side of its control spring by said arm.

l/Vhen the pawl is thus moved to the position which it occupies in Fig. S, its tooth will no longer engage the serrations of the plate 68, and therefore the actuating slide 43 will be released and will return, to the right as seen in said figure, to its normal at rest position shown in Fig. 4. In this respect it might be stated that said plate 68 has a longitudinal extension 11S which serves as a rest for a portion of the lug 76, and thus serves as a stop for preventing oscillation of the pawl 69 in a clock-wise direction to a point where it will not be controlled by the spring 70.

The arresting finger 56 as hereinbefore stated is carried at one end of a lever having an arm 59 the end of which arm is engageable with and controlled by the turned over end 52 of the slide bar 53, and Figs. 4, 6 and 9 particularly show said arm and said bar in various positions during the actuation of the mechanism. The parts in Fig. 4 are at normal or at rest position with the finger 56 extending its full distance across the stall 14 in position to arrest and hold the player disks 15. lVhen the actuating slide 43 is moved to the left, as indicated in Fig. 6, its movement will cause the shoulder 51 carried thereby to strike the turned-over end 52 of the slide bar and, because of the slots such as 54 in said bar, continued movement of the slide pushes the bar 53 also to the left. l

During this movement the end 52 of the bar will ride into and then out of the notch in the edge of the arm 59 and cause an ultimate oscillation of the linger lever 57 resulting in the delayed Withdrawal of the finger 56 from its arresting position shown in-Fig.

3. The continued movement of the actuating' slide will cause the bar 53 to ultimately assume the position shown in Fig. 8 at which time it will be seen that the turned-over end 52 has passed the point of the notch and rests upon the bevelled end of the arm 59, thereby preventing a retrograde movement 0f the finger lever 57 by virtue of its tensioned spring 60. T he notch as well as the shoulder 51 are so dimensioned and positioned that the finger 56 is withdrawn only slightly prior to the release of the slide 43 and therefore the start of rotation of the tables.

Upon the return stroke of the actuating slide 43, its shoulder 51 will move away from the end 52 of the slide bar, but the bar will remain for a time in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 8 so that it results that the finger 56 remains out of arresting position with respect to the player disks during the major portion of said retnrn stroke, However, when said slide nears the end of its return stroke its other shoulder will come into contact with the turned-over end 52 and, in the further movement of the slide, cause the slide bar 53 to move to the right as seen in Fig. 9, ultimately releasing the arm 59 of the linger lever 57 all as should be perfectly clear from the drawings. As soon as this arm is released, the ling-er 56 is then free to move into arresting position, but since the tables 9 and 10 are still rotating, the player disks will continue to be moved until they have all come onto Table 9 and thrown by centrifugal force into the stall 14. It thus will be seen that the finger 56 is moved out of its arresting position just immediately prior to the release of the mechanism which causes rotation of the tables, and that said linger is moved into arresting position just prior to the cessation of rotation of said tables. f

ln order to vary the movements ot the player disks or horses while they are being thrown about by the rotating tables, auxiliary means are provided, under the sole control of the operator of the device, iter stopping the movement of said disks. This means is particularly illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and et, and comprises a shouldered handle 120 having a stem extending interior-ly of the cabinet and terminating in a head 121 spaced from theinnermost wall ot the cabinet to permit a spring 122 to be interposed beuiveen said head and said Wall for maintaining the handle 120 in inoperative position. The head 121 is connected as by a rod 123 to one end ofa spring 124 the other end ot which is secured to a lever 125 pivoted as at 126 to the underside of the plate 1, said lever at its tree end carrying a laterally disposed finger 127 adapted to pass over the upper surface of table)v to assume a position adjacent the arresting position of the automatically operated linger 56. A spring 12S of suflicient strength is employed to keep the auxiliary linger 127 normally out of arresting position lout when they handle 120 is pulled in a direction awa-y from the cabinet the added tension placed upon spring 12st is grea er than the tension of the spring 128 and is suiiicient to cause oscillation to place the auxiliary linger 127 in disk arresting position.

In actual play, the handle 120 is quickly manipulated one or more times causingthe auxiliary finger to lnonientarily more into arresting position and thereby permit tlV e sequence of player disks to be changed, but it is to be understood that the speed of rotation ot the tables 9 and 10 is such that it is extremely diilicult for the operator of the device to visually i'ollow the identitying characters or numbers Which are imprinted upon the upper side of the player disks, to the end that only an operator having the keenest of eyes can cause the auxiliary linger to arrest the disks in such manner as to control their sequence and cause a certain disk to be Winner by being Anst in the stall 14 when the automatically operated linger 56 moves into arresting position.

Thel operation ot the device is as follows. A coin of suitable characteristics is placed in the coin slide and/or the handle 87 depressed to its fullest extent which causes the lever 88 to move the coin slide or its equivalent inwardly of the device with concurrent moving of the actuating slide 43 to the lett as seen in the drawings. This movement of the slide rotates the arm l0 Well as its integrally attached ratchet wheel 27, and moves the plate 68 with its serrations past the holding pawl 69. At the end of the operating stroke of said slide, the end of the extension 117 of the coin slide strikes the lug 76 of said pawl and causes the latter to oscillate about its pivot and move out of holding position with reference to said serrations. At about the same time the arresting linger' 56 is automatically moved out from in trent of the aligned player disks 15, and the point 107 ot thelatching lever is displaced by the lug 108, on the underside of the stationary plate 37, thereby permitting oscillation of the latch 101.

'll he actuating slide 43 is then free to begin its return stroke to the right as seen in the drawings and during this movement the train of gears will be actuated through the paul and ratchet arrangement 28-27 by virtue of the arm 40 and the tension ot the heavy duty spring (S6. During the return stroke et the slide the latch 101 will not be in a position to loe obstructively held by the shoulder 100 ot the coin slide, and the linger 5G is automatically held out of arresting position until near the end ot said return stroke, as when the. shoulder 50 carried by the slide moves theA slide bar 53 to release the arm 59 associated with said arresting linger.

At the end of the return stroke, and when shoulder 100 of the coin slide 91 has been returned to its initial position, the spring 100 carrier by the stationary plate 37 Will cause the latch 101 to be oscillated, and the 10j 108 Will cause the hook 105 of the ig lever to engage the groove 104 and thereby set the latch for the next operativo trok@ of the coin slide 'Ell ter a rmrctition of he operation of the actuating slide. lt the mulder 10!) is moved to the. right 'lasler than 'c travel ot' the actuating slide el-l during its .r y:turn stroke, then theI .veighted end of the latch may cause the latch to swing about its pivot with such force as to automatically cause said hook to engage said groove, but the spring 109 is employed on the side of safety.

ltis obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction as Well as arrangements of parts without departing trom the spiritot the invention, and therefore it is not desired to be limited to the foreexcept may be required by the claims.

1. in a game device the combination of a, plurality ot tables disposed substantially tangent to each other; means to rotate said tables; a. plurality of player disks movable over the surfaces of said tables upon rotation of the latter; a Wall associated with said tables to conline said disks thereon, said Wall having an opening through which said disks may pass from one table to another under centrifugal torce; a second wall disposed above one ot said tables and forming with the first mentioned Wall a compartment to which the moving disks are directed; and means to step and hold said disks in said compartment previous to the end or" a play.

2. In a game device the combination of a plurality of tables disposed substantially tangent to each other; means to rotate said tables; a plurality ot player disks movable over the surfaces of said tables upon rotation ot the latter; a Wall associated with said tables to confine said disks thereon, said Wall havin an opening through which said disks may pass from one table to another under centrifugal force; and means to hold said dis is in alignment on a table previous to the end of a play, said means controlled by the rotating means.

3. In a game device the combination of a pair of tables arranged side by side; means to rotate said tables; a plurality of player disks movable over the surfaces ot' said tables upon rotation of the latter; a Wall associated with said tables to confine said disks thereon, said Wall having an opening through Which said disks may pass from one table to another under centrifugal torce; and means controlled by the rotating means to collect and release said disks against said Wall in circumferential alignment with respect to a table.

4. In a game device the combination of a pair of tables arranged side by side; means to rotate said tables; a plurality of player disks movable over the surfaces of said tables upon rot-ation of the latter; a Wall associated with said tables to confine said disks thereon; said Wall having an opening through which said disks may pass from one table to another under centrifugal torce; and means automatically operated by the table rotating means to collect and release said disks in circinniterential alignment with respect to a table.

5. In a game device the combination of a pair oiFA tables arranged side by side; means to rotate said tables; a. plurality of player disks movable over the surfaces of said tables upon rotation ot the latter; a ivall associated .vith said tables to confine said disks thereon, said ivall having an opening through ivhich said disks may pass from one table to another under centrifugal torce; and means to collect and release said disks iii alignment on a table; said means controlled by the rotating means.

G. In a game device the combination of a plurality ot tables disposed substantially tangent to each other; means to rotate said tables; a plurality of player disks movable over the surfaces of said tables upon rotation of the latter; a Wall associated With said tables to confine said disks thereon, said ivall having an opening through which said disks may pass from one table to another under centrifugal force; and means including said wall and a partition substantially parallel thereto to align said disks on a table previous to a play. n I

7. In a gaine device the combination of' a plurality of tables disposed substantially tangent to each other; means to rotate said tables; a plurality of player disks movable over the surfaces of said tables upon rotation ot the latter; a ivall associated with said tables to conine said disks thereon, said Wall havin an opening through which said disks may pass from one table to 'another under centrifugal torce; a compartment formed by a partition and a portion of said Wall to receive said disks; and. means to stop and hold said disks in said compartment previous to the end of a play. I

8. In a game device the combination of a plurality of tables disposed substantially` tangent to each other; means including an actuating slide to rotate said tables; a plurality oi player disks movable over the surfaces of said tables upon rotation of the latter; a Wall associated with said tables to confine said disks thereon, said .Wall having an opening through Which said disks may pass from one table to another under centrifugal force; a passage formed by a partition and a portion of said Wall through which said t disks may travel under said torce; and means to substantially close an end ot said passage to collect said disks therein previous to the end of a play; said means controlled by said slide.

9. In a game device the combination ofa plurality' oi tables disposed substantially tangent to each other; means to rotate said tables; a plurality ot player disks movable over the surfaces ol said tables upon rotation of the latter; a ivall associated with said tables to confine said disks thereon, said wall having an opening through which said disks may pass from one table to another under centrifugal force; and means toarrest said disks in alignment previous to cessation of rotation of said tables, as Well as to release said disks previous to the start of rotation ot said tables for the next play, said means controlled by the table rotating means.

l0. In a game device the combination of a plurality of tables disposed substantially tangent to each other; means to rotate saidtables a plurality of player disks movable over the surfaces of said tables upon rotation of the latter; a ivall associated With said tables to coniine said disks thereon, said wall having an opening through which said disks may pass from one table to another under centritugal torce; automatic means to stop said disks in alignment previous to cessation of rotation of said tables; and auxiliary means to interrupt the sequence of said disks duringr their travel.

ll. In a game device the ctnnbination of a plurality of tables disposed substantially tangent to each other; means to rotate said tables; a plurality of player disks movable over the surfaces of said tables upon rotation of the latter; a Wall associated with said t-ables to confine said disks thereon, said Wall having an opening through which .said disks may pass from one table to another under centrifugal force; automatic means to stop i said disks in alignment previous to cessation ill of rot-ation of said tables; and auxiliary means under the control of the operator to interrupt the sequence of said disks during their travel.

l2. In a game device the combination of a plurality of tables disposed substantially tangent to each other; means to rotate said tables; a plurality of player disks movable over the surfaces of said tables upon rotation ofthe latter; a Wall associated with said tables to confine said disks thereon, said wall having an opening through which said disks may pass from one table to another under centrifugal force; means controlled by the table rotating means to stop said disks in alignment previous to cessation of retation of said tablesgand independently operated means to interrupt the sequence of said disks during their travel.

13. In a game device the combination of a table; means to rotate said table; a plurality of player disks movable over the surface of said table upon rotation of the latter; a passage through which the moving disks may travel; means to close an end of said passage to stop said disks therein in alignment previous to cessation of rotation of said table; and additional means to close said passage end to stop said disks in an aligmnent which may be different from that caused by said last named means.

lll. In agame device the combination of a. table; means to rotate said table; a plurality of player disks movable over the surface of said table upon rotation of the latter; a passage through vi'hich the moving disks may travel; automatic means to close an end of said passage to stop said disks therein in alignment previous to cessation of rotation of said table; and manually operated means to close said passage end to stop said disks in an alignment which may be different from that caused by said automatic means,

15. In a game device the combination of a table; means to rotate said table; a plurality of player disks movable over the surface of said table upon rotation of the latter; a passage through which the moving disks may travel; means operated by the table rotating means to close an end of said passage to stop said disks therein in alignment previous to cessation of rotation of said table; and auxiliary means to close said passage end to stop said disks in an alignment which may be different from that caused by .said last named means.

lo. In a game device the combination of a plurality of tables disposed substantially tangent to each other; a cover extending over said tables; means to rotate said tables; a plurality of player disks movable over the surfaces ol said tables and beneath said cover upon rotation of said tables; a wall associated withy said tables to support said cover as well as to coni'ine said disks on said tables, said wall having an opening through which said disks may pass from one table to another under centrifugal force; and means including said Wall and a partition supported by said cover to align said disks on a table previous to a play.

l?. In a game device the combination of a plurality of tables disposed substantially tangent to each other; means to rotate said tables: a plurality of player disks movable over the surfaces of said tables upon rotation of the latter; a Vall associated with said tables to confine said disks thereon, said wall having an opening through which said disks may pass from one table to another under centrifugal force; transparent cover disposed above said tables; a partition supported by said cover in spaced relation to said Wall to form a compartment for containing said disks in a single row; and means to close an end of said compartment previous to cessation of rotation of a table to hold said disks in said compartment.

18. In a game device the combination of two tangentially7 disposed tables and means to rotate the same: a cover held in spaced relation to said tables; a wall surrounding said tables and snln'iorting said cover; a iliartition suspended by said cover in spaced relation to said ivall: and means controlled by the table rotating means to stop the player disks upon a table in aiignmcnt within the space fomed by said partition previous to the end of a play.

19. In a game device the combination of a pair of tables arranged side by side; means to rotate said tables; means to guide game pieces from one table to the other; and means associated with one of said tables and con trolled by the rotating means for collecting the game pieces previous to the end of a play.

20, In a game device the combination of a pair of tables arranged side by side; means to rotate said tables; means to guide game pieces from one tables to the other; and means associated with one of said tables and controlled by the rotating means :for collecting and releasing tbe game pieces respectively previous to the end of a play and at the commencement ol' the next play.

21. In a game device the combination of a p: ir of tables arranged side by side; means to rotate said tables; means to guide game pieces from one table to the other; and means associated with one of said tables and controlled by the rotating means for collecting and releasing the game pieces in alignment.

22. In a gaine device Vthe combination of a pair of tables arranged side by side; means WALTER A. Tmvrson. 

